DAVE Noble came up trumps in Newton Anglers' Association's Disabled and Over Sixties Sweepstake which was held on the upper pound of the Sankey St. Helens Canal this week.

Fishing off peg 91 in the 31-strong event, he reeled in a winning all roach catch of 7lbs 11ozs 0drms using casters on the pole at 10 metres out.

Ray Bowden finished in second spot. Fishing off peg 86, he had a mixed bag of roach, perch and skimmers weighing 6-7-0.

Third place went to Eddie Cook, who had an all roach catch of 5-1-0 off peg 80 while Walter Powell came fourth with a mixed bag of fish weighing 4-12-0.

The upper pound of the canal has also recently played host to the association's Edward Jolley Memorial Trophy.

Paul Brown won the 27-strong event with a mixed bag of fish weighing 6-12-0 off peg 46.

Arthur Clapham finished second, 4-9-8, Paul Isherwood came third, 3-10-12 and Mark McClymont was fourth, 3-8-8. They fished off pegs 34, 52 and 50 respectively.

Meanwhile, the association's waters have continued to fish well despite being subjected to cold easterly winds.

The upper and lower pounds of the Sankey St. Helens Canal have been producing good sport for both rod and pole tactics. A wide range of species have been showing and roach and skimmers have been running rife. Casters, maggot or punched bread have been the most successful baits.

The Yewtree Reservoir has been on fire with carp showing on the surface and off the bottom.

Bob Large had mirror carps of 15lbs and 8lbs plus a lovely bream of 5lbs on float fished meat in a session on the water this week while Roger Mason had a mirror carp of 17-5-0 on pole fished maggots.

A host of roach weighing up to 1lbs have also been caught on caster, maggot and worm.

Sport at Penkford has deteriorated although plenty of roach have been taken on casters and maggot.

The Sankey Brook throughout Clayton House farm has continued to produce chub and dace to yellow maggot and water levels have remained consistent.

Anyone who wants to join the association should go along to the Houghton Arms pub in Earlestown on Monday at 8pm.

l It would seem that some anglers are under the impression that the lower pound section of the Sankey canal, between Hey Lock and Newton Brook, is a free stretch. This is not the case. Any anglers that are not members of the association require a day ticket to fish there.